Congress releases 3rd list, Siddaramaiah denied Kolar ticket

Congress on Saturday released its third list of 43 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka assembly elections. Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was denied ticket from Kolar seat and it was given to new face Kothur G Manjunath.

Siddharamaiah had expressed wish to contest from the Kolar assembly seat as the second constituency. The Congress has already fielded him from Varuna constituency, a seat represented by his son Yathindra.

Laxman Savadi, the former BJP leader who quit the party and joined Congress on Friday, has been fielded from the Athani seat.

The development comes just a day after Congress slammed the BJP for not treating its leaders in the right way. Speaking to the media, Siddaramaiah said that BJP should not have treated a senior leader Savadi like this by denying him a ticket. While DK Shivakumar stressed that Savadi was humiliated by the BJP.

The BJP defended the move saying that even after losing the election, BJP made him deputy CM and then MLC, even after that, he joined Congress, a party known for infighting. He has made a big mistake and will regret it later.

The grand old party also denied ticket to former minister and actor-turned-politician Umashree from Terdal and fielded Siddu Kannur from the seat. The Congress fielded former Governor Margaret Alva's son Nivedit Alva from the Kumta assembly seat.

The Congress fielded HC Yogeesh from Shimoga city, Nayana Motamma from Mudigere, HDS turncoat Shivalinge Gowda from Arsikere, Dr Srinivas Kariyanna from Shimoga Rural and Shinde Bhimsen Rao from Aurad.

The Congress released its first list of 124 candidates on March 25. The second list of candidates in 42 constituencies was out on April 6. With the third list of 43 constituencies (including Kolar), the party has so far announced the candidates for 209 out of total 224 seats. The party has to now finalise the list for the remaining 15 seats.

Karnataka will vote in a single phase on May 10 and the results will be announced on May 13.